Sheave block construction



July 23, 1957 e. D. JOHNSON ET'AL 2,800,300

' SHEAVEK- BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed May 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Shgt 1 .520 .Lwo alez/v IN V EN TOR.

Ji l 23 1 G. D. JOHNSON ETAL SHEAVE BLOCK CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1955 2,800,300 Patented July 23, 1957 SHEAVE BLUCK CDNSTRUCTIUN Glenn D. Johnson, Compton, and Egon R. Lindgrcn,

Huntington Park, Calif., assignors to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 23, 1955, Serial No. 510,273

15 Claims. (Cl. 254-194) This invention relates to a sheave block construction and, more particularly, to a production traveling block for use in oil well rigging and which is constructed and arranged for quick reeving.

It is often desired to remove or add lines to a sheave block in riggings for oil well operations. This invention contemplates a design for a multi-sheave traveling block in which lines may be removed or added in a minimum of time and without special equipment. The block construction of this invention incorporates quick opening features so that one or more lines may be quickly associated with a multi-sheave assembly of the block. It is particularly adapted for use in oil Well production rigs where a wire line has been left reeved in a crown block and traveling block lines have been tied back to the rig.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to disclose and provide a sheave block construction which may be quickly and easily reeved.

Another object of this invention is to disclose and provide a multi-sheave block construction wherein quick access may be had to the passageways through which the lines of the rigging assembly pass.

Another object of this invention is to disclose and provide a sheave block construction wherein one of the load carrying side members of the block frame is swingably mounted so that it can be moved into a position alongside a passageway for the reeving lines.

A further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a sheave block construction wherein a block frame and housing means includes edge guards which may be moved away from the block frame to enlarge a passageway through which reeving lines pass for facilitating reeving.

A still further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a multi-sheave block construction wherein a block frame and housing means includes edge guard means pivotally mounted for movement away from the block frame, and a load carrying side frame member swingably mounted for movement to a position alongside line passageway means to provide an enlarged opening at one side of the block frame to facilitate reception of a reeving line into the sheave assembly.

A still further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a sheave block construction as described above wherein engagement means are provided on the edge guard means for cooperable engagement with engagement means provided on a movable load carrying side frame means, said engagement means being cooperable to lock the edge guard means in assembled position.

A still further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a sheave block construction as above described wherein a side frame means and a coupling pin assembly are releasably latched in assembled position.

Generally speaking, this invention contemplates a multisheave block construction comprising a block frame and .housing means provided with spaced pivot means, said housing means including a load carrying side frame means pivotally mounted on one of said pivot means and extending to and cooperatively associated with the other pivot means. Edge guard means pivotally mounted about one of the pivot means are releasably held in assembly by the movable side frame means. The side frame means and the edge guard means are movable in the planar zone of the block frame and housing means so as to form an opening extending longitudinally of the passageway defined by the sheave assembly and the housing means to facilitate reeving and unreeving of lines with respect to said sheave assembly.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings in which an exemplary embodiment of this invention is shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a block construction embodying this invention in assembled position.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the block shown in Fig. 1 with the movable side frame member and edge guard plates in reeving position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the block shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken in a vertical plane bisecting the block as indicated by line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partly in section, and enlarged, the section being taken in a plane parallel to the planar zone of the block as indicated by line VV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an edge guard means.

Referring first to Figs. l-3 inclusive, the sheave block construction generally indicated at 10 includes a multisheave assembly 11 rotatably mounted within a block frame and housing means 12 which substantially encloses the sheave assembly to protect the assembly from foreign matter and damage during operation. The block means 12 defines with the sheave assembly a substantially semi-circular passageway indicated at 13 for passage therethrough of wire lines normally engaged and associated with the sheave assembly. The block means 12 is provided with a coupling assembly generally indicated at 14 for a swivel means, as illustrated, or link adapter, hook, or other accessories which may be associated with the block frame means.

The sheave assembly 11 may comprise a non-rotatable center pin 16 upon which may be mounted intermediate its ends one or more sheaves 17 as by any suitable well known bearing means 18.

The sheave assembly 11 is substantially enclosed within the block frame and housing means 12 which may comprise a top nose 20 of suitable configuration providing an eye 21 for connection to a dead line. Secured to nose 20 are a pair of parallel spaced side frame load carrying means 22 and 23. Side frame means 22 is fixed and includes an inner side plate 24 welded to nose 20, extending over and covering one face of the sheaves 17 and having a lower semi-circular edge to correspond with the adjacent lower portion of said sheaves. Welded to inner plate 24 may be an outer side plate 25 which extends across and beyond passageway 13 for load carrying connection to coupling means 14 as described in detail hereinafter. The outer side plate 25 may have secured thereto as by welding a thick-section load member 26. The plates 24, 25 and member 26 may be ported to receive a center pin clamp ring 28 which is sleeved over one end of center pin 16. At this end the center pin is threaded to engage a threaded center pin nut 29 which may be provided with a flange bearing against the outer annular edge face of clamp ring 28. The not ,29 may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches 30 therein for selective engagement with a 'nut'lockmember'aal which-may be carried within a recess 32 provided in the-load member '26. -A- pair of lock screws 33 secure the nut lock member to side plates 24 and 25. j

The other load carrying side frame means"23 includes a: fixed inner side plate-35 welded to nose20, -of=a configuration similar to inner side'plate' 24; andi'covering sheaves 17 on the sideopposite toplate 24. fThe-adjacent end of center pin 16 is mounted" in=said=fixed inner'plate 35 by a center pin collar 36 which is received wi'thin an aligned opening in fixed plate 35. "The center'pin' collar provides an externalcylindrical surface about which an outer side plate 37 may pivot orswing, said'outer plate 37 having secured thereto as .by welding"atthick-section load member 38 which -is-ported and-which also may bear against the external cylindrical surfaceof collar '36. The load memberr38 includes'acircular recess 39 to receive a headed end 40 .of collar 36, said collar 36: also be ng provided with an internal annular 'recess"41 to receive a headed end of center pin 16. The 'innergsurface of. the outer side plate 37 may slide on the outer surface of the fixed inner plate 35 when the block construction is opened for reeving. The movable outer side plateg37 and member 38 extend transversely to passageway13 and therebeyond for releasable 'cooperable connection to coupling means 14. V

The coupling means 14' comprises area'dilyremovable coupling pin 43 received within'a coupling sleeve 44 to which may be secured as by welding an internally threaded coupling sleeve nut head 45 which threadedlyreceives'a reduced threaded end-46 .of coupling pin 43. The coupling sleeve 44 extends through a port'in" the end of fixed side plate 25 and member 26 which maybe provided with a recess 47 to receive sleeve nut head 45.

The opposite end of the coupling 'pin'43' is received within aligned openings provided in the swingable-outer side plate 37 and member 38 carried thereby. Itmay be noted that the coupling sleeve 44 terminates at the lnner face of the swingable side plate 37 and may bear thereagainst as at 48. The coupling pin is'providedwith a head 49 which may be received Within a recess'50 in the member 38, said head 49 being provided'withaplurality of circumferentially spaced notches 51. -The'recess"50 is extended toward center pin 16 to provide an elongated recess portion 52 to receive a slidable latch member '53.

The'latch member 53 releasably locks the coupling pin against rotation and may include a 'latch portion 54 slidably receivable in a selected'not'ch 51in head 49. Latch member 53 may be provided with longitudinally spaced detents 55 for cooperation with 'a spring-biased detent pin 56 carried by the side plate 37' and' member 38. One detent 55 serves to retain the latch member in released position and the other detent 55 serves to retain the latch member in locked position. A latch securing bolt 57 may extend through an elongatedslot 57a in latch member 53 and into an aligned 'port' in member 38 and side plate 37 and permits the latch member to slide into and out of locking engagement with the coupling pin head 49.

Inwardly of the side plates 25 and 37 and carried-in spaced relation therebetween by the coupling sleeve 44 may be spaced ears or lugs 60 of a yoke 61-of swivel means generally indicated at-62. The swivel 'means' 62 does not form a part of this invention and 'is therefore not described in detail. It is understood that various other accessories or devices may be mounted-on the sleeve member 44 in a manner similar to the yoke mounting shown.

The block frame and housing means-includes, in addition to the fixed load carrying side frame means 22-and the swingably mounted side plate 37 and member 38 ,of side frame load carrying-means 23, edge' guard means comprising a pair of edge guard plates 64 pivotally mounted from pivot means'provided-by the "coupling means 14. Each edge guard plate 64 includes a-curviedge guard plate is moved away from the'sheaves. will be readily noted that the other edge guard plate.64

.4 linear wall 65 subtending an angle of approximately 90. The curvilinear walls.65 of plates .64.define one side of passageway 13 and substantially cover the edge of the sheave assembly in the lower portion thereof and the curved edges of fixed side plates 24 and 35. The upper free transverse edge of each curved wall 65 may be rabbeted as at 66 for cooperation with a complementary transverse rabbeted edge 67 of an upper fixed .edge wall 68 which is secured to inner plates 24 and 35 and nose 29. Fixed edge wall 68 is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 69 through which normally pass wire lines associated with the sheave assembly.

Each curved wall 65 may be reinforced by a centrally disposed, longitudinally extending strengthening flange 70 lying at right angles to wall 65 and tapering from a narrow portion adjacent to rabbeted edge 66 to a wide portion adjacent coupling means 14. A transversely disposed wall 71 adjacent to inner edge 72 of each curved wall 65 and flange 70'are connected to a cylindrical hub 73 which is ensleeve'd' over sleeve member 44 between yoke lugs 60. Hubs '73 of edge guard plates 64 are offset with respect to the wa'1l'65 so that, in assembly, hub 73 of one plate 64 lies axially adjacent hub 73 of the other plate 64 as best seen in Fig. 5. The split hub assembly permits the pair of edge plates 64 to unfold by pivotal movement in opposite directions about the axis of the coupling means 14 to move away from the sheaves and to enlarge passageway 13 for reception of the lines.

-Means to retain the edge guard plates 64 in closed assembled position may include engagement means on the swingable side plate 37 and the edge guard plates. A cam engagement means 75 in the form of a lug provided with an outer cam surface is carried adjacent one curved edge of wall 65 of each edge guard plate and intermediate it ends. A pair of spaced cam engagement means 76' (in the form of lugs) may be carried on the inner face of the outer swingably mounted side plate 37 outwardly of thepassageway 13. Each engagement means 76 includes a cam face cooperable with the cam surface on engagement means 75 when swingable plate 37 is. in normal assembled closed position. When plate 37 is positioned at one side of the block frame in reeving position, a notch 77 cut in the edge of each curved wall 65 permits passage therethrough of'the engagement meansf76 on the plates 64'and swingable plate 37 are in closed position and engagement means 75 and 76 interlocked. To open the block construction to remove or add a line thereto the coupling pin 43 is first removed by sliding latch member 53 to disengage latching portion 54 with the coupling 'pin head 49. The coupling pin 43 may then be unthreaded from the coupling sleeve nut head and removed from the coupling sleeve. Upon removal of the coupling pin the outer swingable plate 37 and member 38 may be swung to either side of the block housing means.

Swinging of plate 37 through approximately not'only releases the interlocked engagement means 75, 76.0n both plate 37 and the edge guard plates 64 .but -also positions on the engagement means 76 on the side plate in alignment with notch 77 in curved. wall 65 of the adjacent edge guard plate for passage therethrough when this It is free to move away from the sheave assembly. .lBoth edge guard plates 64 may then be unfoldedv away from the sheave assembly by pivotal-movementin opposite directions aboutthe coupling 'sleeve 44. aWhen the guard plates are in open, unfolded position and the swinging plate is at its side position, passageway 13 is not only exposed and open along its entire length but is enlarged to facilitate removal or introduction of lines with respect to the sheave assembly.

It should be noted that the swingable plate 37 moves in a plane parallel to and Within the planar zone of the block and similarly the edge guard plates move within the planar zone of the block. It will be understood that opening of the block construction to reeving or unreeving position is normally accomplished by laying the block on a floor with the swingable plate upppermost.

It is also important to note that assembly of the block construction with a swivel means or other accessory is conveniently accomplished. When the swingable side plate 37 is pivoted away from coupling means 14, the coupling sleeve 44 is exposed at one end to readily receive thereover yoke means of the swivel means.

The block construction of this invention thus provides for quick reeving since the passageway 13 may be readily opened along its length for reception therethrough of lines. The swingable plate 37 is quickly and readily released by removing the coupling pin of the coupling means whereby the swingable plate may be moved to one side or the other of the block. The edge guard plates are automatically released from interlocking engagement with the swingable plate by such movement of the swingable plate and are then free to unfold away from the sheave assembly. In reassembly of the block of this invention the edge plates are moved to assembled position and are then locked by movement of the swingable plate to its normal assembled position.

It will thus be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes which come within the spirit of this invention may be made and all such modifications and changes which come within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

We claim:

1. In a quick reeving sheave block construction comprising, a combination: a block frame and housing means including side frame members and a pair of edge guard plates, one of said side frame members being swingable; a sheave assembly mounted in the block frame and housing means and defining with the side frame members and the edge guard plates a passage for lines; a first pivot means for mounting the swingable side frame member for movement to a position alongside said passageway; a second pivot means parallel to said first pivot means to mount the edge guard plates for unfolding movement away from the sheave assembly whereby said passageway is opened along the length thereof to receive a line, said second pivot means including a coupling sleeve carried by one of the side frame members and providing a mounting for said edge guard plates, and a coupling pin re leasably connected to the swingable side frame member and securable within said coupling sleeve; and interengaging means on the swingable side frame member and each of said edge guard plates to releasably hold the edge plates in assembly.

2. In a quick reeving sheave block construction comprising, in combination: a block frame and housing means including side frame members and a pair of edge guard plates, one of said side frame members being swingable; a sheave assembly mounted in the block frame and housing means and defining with the side frame members and the edge guard plates a passage for lines; a first pivot means for mounting the swingable side frame member for movement to a position alongside said passageway; a second pivot means parallel to said first pivot means to mount the edge guard plates for unfolding movement away from the sheave assembly whereby said passageway is opened along the length thereof to receive a line; and interengaging means on the swingable side frame memher and each of said edge guard plates to releasably hold the edge plates in assembly.

3. In a sheave block construction as stated in claim 2 wherein said interengagement means on the swingable plate and the edge guard plates include a lug provided with a cam face on each edge guard plate and a pair of spaced lugs provided with cam faces on said swingable plate, said cam faces on said lugs being interengageable for retaining the edge guard plates in assembly.

4. In a quick reeving sheave block construction, the combination of: a block frame including a pair of side frame members; a sheave assembly including a center pin mounted in said side frame members, one side frame member being pivotally mounted about the axis of said center pin; a removable coupling pin spaced from said sheaves in parallel relation to the center pin and carried by the side frame members; a coupling sleeve fixed to one side frame member and receiving said coupling pin;

a pair of edge guard plates pivotally mounted on the coupling sleeve and extending along said sheaves toward the center pin; means on the pivoted side frame member and means on the edge guard plates cooperably engageable to retain said plates in assembly in closed position; and releasable catch means on said pivoted side frame member cooperably engageable with said coupling pin.

5. In a sheave block construction, the combination of: a block frame provided with spaced parallel pivot means, said frame including a side plate mounted for swinging movement to one side of the frame on one of said pivot means; an edge plate for the frame mounted to swing away from the frame about and on the other pivot means; and means on the side plate and means on the edge plate interengageable to retain the edge plate in assembly.

6. In a sheave block construction, the combination of: a block frame having spaced apart parallel pivot means; a side plate partially covering one side of the block frame and mounted on one of the pivot means for swinging movement to one side of the block frame; an edge plate covering an edge portion of the block frame and mounted for movement away from the frame on the other pivot means; and means on the side plate and the edge plate to retain said plates in assembly in one position.

7. In a sheave block construction, the combination of: a block frame lying in a planar zone and having spaced parallel pivot means perpendicular to said zone, said frame including a side plate mounted on one of said pivot means and swingable thereabout to one side of the frame in said planar zone; an edge plate mounted on the other pivot means and movable away from the block frame in said planar zone; and means to retain the side plate and edge plate in assembly in one position.

8. In a sheave block construction, the combination of: a block frame means; spaced parallel pivot means on said block frame means; a block frame member mounted on one pivot means and swingable thereabout; edge plate means mounted on the other pivot means and swingable away from said block frame means; and interlockable means to retain said edge plate means in assembly with said frame member in one position.

9. A block as stated in claim 8 including engagement means on said edge plate means and cooperable engagement means on said frame member, said engagement means retaining said edge plate means in one position with respect to said block frame means.

10. A block as stated in claim 8 wherein said edge plate means includes a pair of edge guards pivotally mounted on said other pivot means, said edge guards being movable away from said block frame means when said frame member is swung about its pivot means whereby an open space is provided between said edge plate means and said block frame means for reception of a line to be reeved in said block.

11. A block as stated in claim 8 wherein said other pivot means includes a removable coupling-pimsaid frame member having a port therein to receive said' coupling.

pin; and releasable catch means on said frame rnember' cooperable with said coupling pin in assembly.

12. A block as stated in claim 8 wherein said engage ment means includes a lug carried by said edge plate means spaced from the said other pivot means and a cooperable lug carried by said frame member to lock said edge plate means in normally closed position.

13. In a sheave block construction: a sheave assembly; a block frame and housing means for said sheave assembly and defining with said sheave assembly a planar zone and a passageway for a line within said zone,

said housing means including an edge plate extending along said passageway, and a side member extending transverse to said passageway; means mounting said side member for movement to a position alongsideand opening said passageway; and means mounting said edge plate for movement within said planar zone to a position spaced from said sheave assembly to enlargesaid' passageway.

14. In a sheave block construction including a pivoted sheave assembly, the combination of: a blockframe and housing means for said sheave assembly and including amind spaced side plates, one of' said side plates beingpivotally mounted for swinging movemnt in its plane; a pair of edge plates extending between said side plates'to cover a portion of the space between juxtaposed peripheral edge porti'onsthereof; and means mounting said edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,382,049 l-"rankhous'er Aug. 1'4, 1945' 2,474,433, McKissick- June 28', 1949 2,502,570

Johnson. Apr. 4, 1950'- 

